What a Fellowship, What a Joy Divine, ELW 774
1 What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
what a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning (Leaning on Jesus), leaning (leaning on Jesus),
safe and secure from all alarms;
leaning (leaning on Jesus), leaning (leaning on Jesus),
leaning on the everlasting arms.
2 Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning (Leaning on Jesus), leaning (leaning on Jesus),
safe and secure from all alarms;
leaning (leaning on Jesus), leaning (leaning on Jesus),
leaning on the everlasting arms.
3 What have I to dread, what have I to fear
leaning on the everlasting arms;
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning (Leaning on Jesus), leaning (leaning on Jesus),
safe and secure from all alarms;
leaning (leaning on Jesus), leaning (leaning on Jesus),
leaning on the everlasting arms.
Devotion
The first verse of this beloved hymn speaks to the tension in the gospel this week. In Jesus' parable (Matthew 22:1-14), potential guests of the King miss the opportunity for fellowship and joy with the King due to their misdirected priorities and actions. The opening phrases of the hymn boldly celebrate the opportunity, "What a fellowship, what a joy divine..." I sing those words with an exclamation point! Why wouldn't we want to take part in this fellowship and joy that the King offers? But as the parable points out, it's not that simple. If we're honest, all of us get our priorities and actions wrong some of the time. And so we must "lean on Jesus"—not as an excuse, not as an easy out, but as a genuine way to return to the fellowship and joy that the King offers. Celebrate the joy, and lean on Jesus!
Prayer
Dear Lord, help us to sing of your fellowship and joy with an exclamation point! And help us to lean on your everlasting arms when we need to be lifted up and led back to your Kingdom. Amen.